Process of manufacturing gas



(No Model.)

R. H. SMITH.

PROOESS OF MANUFAGTURING GAS.

No. 341,354. Patented May 4, 1886 Jr Ifl,

N. PETERS. l lmm-Limogmplmn Waihmgmn. D, C.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROLAND I'I. vSMITH, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROGESS OF MANUFACTURING GAS.

SPBCIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 341,354, dated May 4, 1886.

Application filed November 30, 1885.

To all' whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-It0LAr5 li. SMrriI, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Process of Manufacturing Gas, of which the following is a spceification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of gas; and it has for its objects to provide for the utilization of natural gas for illuminating purposes by combining the same with gases rieher in earbon; and it consists in an improved process for preparing such natural gas previous to combining it With the richer gases, so that it will assimilate and uuite thoroughly with the same; also, in an improved process of treating the natural gas, when properly prepared, in connection with a suitable hydroearbon, so as to generate a eompound gas; and, finally, in a process of fixing the combined gases as generated in the manner more fully hereinafter speeified. u

I have discovered that the natural gas, as it issues fromi the earth, on account of its low temperature and coxnpressed condition, has its atoms or moleeules so contracted that it will not thoroughly assimilate with the richer gases and eombine with the same, 'and that in order to produce a homogeneous fixed gas that will not stratify, the natural gas has to be heated, so as to expand or break up the atoms or moleeules preparatory to treating the same with the richer gases, in order to bring about the desired decomposition and produce the proper resultant gas.

In praetieing my invention the natural gas, as it issues from the earth, is first heated to a temperature sufficiently high to decompose hydrocarbon vapor and to expand the gas so as to separate and diffuse the atoms or molecules. The gas thus heated is then brought into contact with the hydrocarbon, Which is thereby vaporized and decomposed, and the resultant combined gases are then fixed so as to form an illuminating-gas thatfviil not condense or stratify.

Any suitable apparatus may be employed in the manufaeture of my improved compound Serial No. 184,322. (No model.)

gas; but I prefer the apparatus illustrated in the aceompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 represent-s a longitudinal seetional View of a furnace and the rotorts for preparing and manufircturing the gases, and Pig-2 a.

in any suitable manner With the natural-gas,

main, and is provided with a suitable coek, by means of Which the admission of natural gas may be regulated.

The letter 13' indicates asimilar retort, 4which has a pipe, l, extending into it, along the upper part above the bed of coal. This pipe is also provided with a cock and connected to the natn rai-gas main.

D' iudicates a third retort, Which has extended into .it a pipe, 111, Which is located midway between the top and bottom of the same and terminates near the rear, as in the other retorts. This last-mentioned retort has also extended into it a pipe, 'F, which passes along the upper part of the retort and terminates near the rear thereof. The said pipe at its front is provided with a trap, G, and funnel H, for the introduction of a liquid hydroearbou. Through the lower part of the furnace extends a pipe, I, which is provided with a series of burncrs, and eounects With the natural-gas main. a coek, K, by means of which the flow of gas to the burncrs may be regulated.

Any suit-able hydrocarbon-such as coal, eannel-coal, oil, or other grcasy matter, petroleum, or the like-may be employed for the production of the rich gas, and in case a solid hydrocarbon is used it is charged iu the retorts, as indieated at A and B'; but when a liquid hydroearbon is employed it is supplied through the trapped pipe, as in the retort D.

The operation of my invent-ion is as follows:

The burncrs in the furnaee A', setting under the retorts, supply a series of jets of natural Thesaid pipe is provided With gas, which, being lighted, heat the retorts.

XVh en the temperature is suffi ei entl y elevated, the natural gas is admitted, which becomes heated and expanded to the proper degree in passing through the respective pipes. As it escapes from the said pipes, it meets and deeomposcs the vapors and rich gases generated from the hydrocarbons in the retorts, and is fixed in said retorts so as to form a gas of the proper illuminating-power, and Which Will not stratil'y or condense, as the atoms or moleeules Originally expanded contract on cooling, thus binding and holding the richer gas.

rPhe respective retorts are .Connected by means of snitable pipes with the usual hydaulic main from Which the final gas is conveyed to the holders.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s-

The process of making lluminatng-gas 2o from natural gas and the artificiaIly-produced fixed hydrocarbon gases, the same consisting in mixing the natural gas, artificially heated to about the temperature of the fixed nascent gas, With such gas, so as to produce a perma- 25 nent combined gas, substantially as speeified.

In testimony WhereofI affix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ROLAND H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

MrL'roN I. BAIRD, D. P. BLACK. 

